Validates scalability of the CAPTN-3 tri-specific antibody platform
IM1240, the first CAPTN-3 tri-specific antibody targeting the novel tumor-associated antigen 5T4, advances toward first-in-human clinical trials, with an Investigational New Drug (IND) submission planned for 2026
REHOVOT, Israel, Oct. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Purple Biotech Ltd. ("Purple Biotech" or the "Company") (NASDAQ/TASE: PPBT), a clinical-stage company developing first-in-class therapies that seek to overcome tumor immune evasion and drug resistance, today announced the achievement of a manufacturing milestone for IM1240, a tri-specific antibody from the CAPTN-3 platform, which targets the tumor-associated antigen 5T4, the activating receptor CD3 on T cells and the inhibitory receptor NKG2A on NK and CD8⁺ T cells.
"Establishing a process capable of producing tri-specific antibodies marks a major step in our development program," said Gil Efron, CEO of Purple Biotech. "We have developed a high-efficiency manufacturing and purification process that is designed to deliver a differentiated T cell engager with a capped, cleavable polypeptide designed to help prevent off-tumor immune activation. This milestone positions our CAPTN-3 platform as an attractive potential solution for developing complex tri-specific antibodies with both competitive yield and purity."
"Drawing on my decades of experience in antibody manufacturing, producing a tri-specific protein such as IM1240 at high yield and purity was perceived as a significant challenge-one that I'm pleased to have successfully mastered," added Dr. Michael Schickler, Head of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs of Purple Biotech. "Our technology is designed to deliver a triple mechanism of action: it activates NK cells and highly cytotoxic T cells by blocking the inhibitory NKG2A-HLA-E interaction and engages cytotoxic T cells through CD3 targeting driving a potent anti-tumor immune response. The antibody's structure incorporates a protease-cleavable albumin-bound cap that prevents systemic CD3 immune activation. By limiting immune activation to the tumor microenvironment, this approach is designed to offer a potentially safer therapeutic profile and an extended half-life."